Death, reincarnation and afterlife

To keep myself straight, I thought I’d keep track of this here. I’m using the US version (for Nephilim) and the French version (for Selenim and Ar-Kaïm) as a basis, but I’m not necessarily beholden to it.

Upon the death of a nephilim (see Nephilim rulebook p116), their elemental essence flees their simulacrum and takes spectral form (the nephilim’s metamorphosis, devoid of humanity) only detectable via mystic vision. This elemental is entitled to search for a new bearer. If it cannot, then it will inevitably be drawn back into its stasis regardless of intervening distance.

If the stasis is already full, then the elemental becomes stuck in place and enter a narcosis that causes various haunting phenomena (see Nephilim rulebook p116-7.) In favorable conditions the spirit can precipitate the birth of elemental beasts, such as the banshee (see Gamemaster’s Companion p57).

This narcosis can last for centuries, but eventually the spirit will disintegrate and disperse into the magic fields. Without the stasis to anchor it, this happens immediately if the spirit cannot bind a host in time. They’re too unstable to maintain themselves compared to the simpler elemental beasts that can search for concentrated sources of Ka.

Disembodiment works only slightly differently for Selenim and Ar-KaIm. Since they lack a stasis to anchor them, then upon death their essence only has a short period of time to bind a host before dissolving. It usually dissipates immediately upon the death of the simulacrum [as per the French], unless the GM rules otherwise. Selenim Cores are far too unstable, even compared to Black Summonings. Ar-Kaïm Hearts are likewise unstable by virtue of their seemingly impossible configuration, too unstable to form a specter.

As such, Selenim are generally a craven lot. That said, they have developed a couple of ways to avoid this fate. The sarcophagus is an object that serves a similar purpose to a stasis, but the downside is that these are usually literal sarcophagi with all the transportation difficulties that entails. The Unnamed Arcanum has experimented with a portable “anti-stasis” item to house the essence, but it will require external assistance to recharge and release the spirit. The Third Circles of the obscure sciences generally have spells to overcome these limitations, making them truly immortal.

Some Ar-KaIm have developed a technique that lets them transfer their essence to a willing blood relative [as per the French]. This rite kills the caster upon completion, so it is normally only done when the caster is already on their deathbed. This usually isn’t necessary, as their essence will instinctively incarnate in a nearby relative watching their deathbed. They may use Stasis items like nephilim do, but the essence seems reticent to leave unless drawn out by a blood relative or other spells.

When a mortal dies, then their Solar-Ka remains with their corpse. About half of it evaporates into the solar field, leaving a “core” of “residual” Solar-Ka. This becomes a ghost that may be affected and evoked by Necromancy through a connection (e.g. the corpse, a memento, an old haunt, the deceased’s name). After a few centuries the residue evaporates completely and the ghost becomes inaccessible.

During the first week after death it is possible for the dead to be resurrected by the third circle earth spell Resurrection (see Liber Ka p81). After that, death cannot be reversed by anyone save an Agarthan or a Thanatologist (Third Circle Necromancer).

A dead Simulacrum can be resurrected in the rulebook, but in Liber Ka this was changed so that Simulacra cannot be resurrected. (Not even if the Stasis item is nearby? Nope!) Presumably this would’ve been part of a later retcon to Nephilim so that they were no longer body snatchers or something.

The Philosopher’s Stone Air meditation Crafting the Alchemical Key (see “Unpublished Alchemy Rules”) allows the alchemist to speak with any dead soul by touching the corpse, which is the closest Nephilim ever come to Necromancy. When a Simulacrum is touched then only the Simulacrum’s ghost is contacted unless the Nephilim was destroyed by Orichalc, in which case the Nephilim is contacted. This contradicts the revision in Liber Ka.

In my symbiotic conceit, then the Simulacrum’s soul cannot be contacted independently of the Nephilim because they’re the same person and not a hapless host to a body snatcher. Unless the elemental essence can be restored to the body, then resurrecting a Simulacrum is either impossible or results in severe spiritual damage akin to elixirfication because they’re still missing the magical part of their soul. The Simulacrum’s ghost cannot be contacted separately unless the Nephilim’s Ka was destroyed by Orichalc or disintegrated into the magic fields (also congrats on contacting a Nephilim’s ghost!), or else only knows things up to their point of death and no further reincarnations but has full memory of their occult life for the reason stated earlier.

Philosopher’s Stone and Necromancy may interrogate a Nephilim’s deceased past lives by using his Stasis item in lieu of corpse. The Stasis item anchors these past lives through a sympathetic connection to their Solar-Ka in life. But any current living incarnation may feel something intrusive…

The Third Circle of Necromancy or “Thanatology” has few limitations. It can communicate with the long dead, resurrect the long dead, affect the souls of the living and the immortals, render Selenim truly immortal… I’ll get to it during my adaptation of Necromancy.

Hmm… Working out how to use Necromancy on past lives suddenly seems a lot harder now. I need to think more on the metaphysics of souls now…

On another note, elemental beasts have been observed to be reborn multiple times even after supposed destruction (see Gamemaster’s Companion p44). Unless annihilated by Orichalc, some part of their memory is retained by the dispersed Ka and integrated into future elementals. Does such a thing happen to Immortals lost to the magic fields? Perhaps, as elemental beasts have been seen to spawn en mass after many Nephilim were suddenly lost to the magic fields (see rulebook p220). While their ghosts may be called from the magic fields by Thanatology, no disintegrated essence has ever been seen reborn from the magic fields.

Hope you enjoyed!